I Love Jesus, but Hate His Church.

mcarmichael said:

I think it was Mahatma Gandhi who said:
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

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There's some application to this, but let's not forget that Gandhi's contemporaries in India were so unlike him and his own ideals.

Quasiblogo said:

There's some application to this, but let's not forget that Gandhi's contemporaries in India were so unlike him and his own ideals.

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Well, that may be.

Like my comment added anything. Oh well. I Think I'll call it a day for blogging. Obviousness means the sun is setting

Tree of Life said:

Are there more hypocritical people in the church than in society at large?

If people reject Christianity because they feel morally superior to the people they see in the church, isn't this just a sign of self-righteous arrogance and self-delusion?

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I don't believe that there are more hypocrites within the church than on the outside. Such vices are a part of human nature itself, and leaving an institution that preaches against such vices is not going to make anyone any less susceptible to these vices.

@jimmyjimmy This is a subject I have dealt with in my walk, and I still do not like Sunday church as much as I enjoy Bible study, praise and worship or fellowship. I have never been able to find what I need in Sunday church. I have been to many churches and even attended Berean University AOG to become a Minister. I even served 3 years internship, lead worship, prayer, and even Bible studies. But I decided to not become a Minister. It wasn't there for me.

I found my church in the woods hanging out with the homeless. Showing them someone cared. Working in food lines to feed the less fortunate, or using my dodge diesel to haul food. Even going hungry for the day to buy someone on a street corner some food. even by having the homeless move into my home. This is where I found my brothers and sisters in Christ, and right here on this forum actually.

I do not believe any building nor authority on this earth is God's Church Rather we as God's Bride are the Church. As it is written, we are to be doers of the faith, not hears only deceiving ourselves. Also, our faith needs to produce works, or our faith is useless. Another paramount issue for me is we are told to go out and preach the gospel everywhere, not in just one building where some will never even cross the threshold. Go out and be a living testimony. Love. Forgive. Forbear, and preach the gospel. Lay hands on the sick, and comfort the widow in their mourning. Visit the prisoner in prison, and love the sinner in his affliction. That is the Body of Christ. Alvie, active and moving through our communities being an ever-present light of the gospel of Christ. That is the Church to me. That is the only Church I intend, to, attend.

I do not recognize any other authority but Christ. I confess Jesus the Christ as the one and only True God. Jesus is the high priest in the order of Melchizedek and holds the keys to both heaven and hell. Jesus is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Jesus is also the Word of God that created all that is and became flesh and dwelt amongst man. I can go on and on, but the point is there is no one else more qualified to teach about God, well then... God. I am completely adherent to Sola Scriptura. Because even in that Jesus is living scripture.

I also have a real disdain for dogma, church traditions, and denominational edicts. I absolutely refuse to pray to anyone except a member of the Holy Trinity in Jesus name. The Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit/Ghost. The other biggie for me is those who will not confess Jesus.

1Jn 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

To me, this is a litmus test. I confess Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh. To me, it is as easy as saying: 'Hello, my name is Lee.' I have asked pastors before if they can confess Jesus and they look at me like Im an alien.

"Well of course!I'm a pastor."

" I meant can you confess Jesus for me?"

"He is Lord, and the Son of God"

"He who?"

"Jesus."

"So can you confess Jesus as Lord?"

This is ridiculous! I went to seminary for..... blah, blah, blah....... I go to church.... I read the bible.... I'm a devote Christian.

If you cannot confess Jesus. I can not confess you as a Christian. I am sure not going to sit in your congregation and hear your sermon if you cannot even confess Jesus Christ. This is not a problem for the people I fellowship with. It feels great to say it. Just look someone right in the eyes and confesses Jesus. I love it. I want to be found guilty for associating myself with Jesus. I love it, even more, when someone is in my face cursing my God. " Well I understand that is the way you feel, But I confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Can I explain to you why?"

jimmyjimmy said:

....

What say you? Is the title of this thread contradictory to what scripture teaches?

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the title of this thread contradictory to what scripture teaches

Sam91 said:

Thank you for the clarification. My posts have had both capitalised and uncapitalised due to that confusion.

God bless you!

Actually still confused. Is it a capital or not?

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The capital letter corresponds to dogmas which have no falsehood. As example: god is idol of paganism, but God is Jesus Christ. Next example: 1) "c"hurch of satan in USA; 2) the main Church (the building) in my capital town.

jimmyjimmy said:

What say you? Is the title of this thread contradictory to what scripture teaches?

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The contradictory part is, "HIS church,"
If you do an etymology search on the word, Church, you'll learn it is based on the pagan godess Circe.

Yahoshua Messiah even used elements of her legend to describe Satan's Church, in calling us out of Her.

What Yahoshua Messiah taught, is what the Spirit of Yah has taught throughout the Holy Scriptures. The Congregation that gathers together to celebrate the 7 feasts, but otherwise celebrates the Sabbath at Home with family and neighbours.

If you are Born Again, seek the Truth of my claims from the Holy Spirit, in Yahoshua's name; and don't give up until He answers you.

The Church, universally teaches the worship of the Lord, instead of proclaiming the name Yahowah to the nations.

braddmagyar said:

Do you think that Jesus is okay with someone who hates His wife?

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Who is God's wife in the Bible? What is the wife supposed to be doing? Is the modern church behaving like God's wife according to those descriptions? Are we sure the modern church is God's wife?

Since the Church is defined as the body of all believers and we are all brothers in Christ, one Who hates the church and says he loves Christ is a liar.

completely contradictory. we should all love each other even if someone does not love us we should not decide to stop loving them. we should also try not to take things so personally otherwise we will end up judging people and coming from that place is not good for anyone.

but when they say "church" they are putting alot of people under an umbrella and hating your brother will not get anyone into the kingdom of heaven.

jimmyjimmy said:

I've seen or heard statements like that for the past decade. As the years go by I hear it more frequently.

Although Ive heard this from all types of people, the common thread is that these people, a) think that statement is logically sound, and b) they think that they stand on some moral higher ground.

What say you? Is the title of this thread contradictory to what scripture teaches?

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jesus doesn't have any church here on earth.

Tree of Life said:

Are there more hypocritical people in the church than in society at large?

If people reject Christianity because they feel morally superior to the people they see in the church, isn't this just a sign of self-righteous arrogance and self-delusion?

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The "society at large" isn't claiming to be followers of Christ, so, nope, they're not hypocritical in the same way as Christians. They don't claim to follow a way of life, make that their identity, and then do the opposite.

mcarmichael said:

It better be. I got it from Wikipedia.

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Ha ha! I meant the sentiment.

surrender1 said:

The "society at large" isn't claiming to be followers of Christ, so, nope, they're not hypocritical in the same way as Christians. They don't claim to follow a way of life, make that their identity, and then do the opposite.

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So hypocrisy is a sin unique to the church? You don't think that people outside the church are also inconsistent in their beliefs and actions?